Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy Hale.
Hi Kathy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My career began with a diagnosis. I was 38 years old with 4 kids at home when doctors discovered I had sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease. At that time, the only treatment was heavy doses of steroids for an extended period of time. I read the side effects and rejected the treatment. I decided instead to find my way out of the disease. At the time I had just closed Daily Bread, my vegetarian cafe, and had begun working with an organic farmer on setting up the first CSA in Kansas City, MO. A surprise benefit was I suddenly had an abundance of organic produce. Being a cook, I turned our meals into organic feasts. I immediately noticed that the organic produce diminished two of my most troubling symptoms; exhaustion and problematic digestion. At the same time, I had begun taking a weekly pilates mat class. I knew pilates focused on improving lung function, so I started taking it for that reason. I discovered that it also repaired the physical impact that long hours of cooking for the past 6 years had done to my body. Five years later, I felt healthier than I had ever been and decided to become a certified Pilates instructor. Pilates and organic food in many ways saved my life and created the road forward to what I have been doing ever since.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I love teaching pilates, but in the early 2000’s it was virtually unknown in Kansas City. It was often confused with yoga, people couldn’t pronounce it, they didn’t understand the sequencing of movements rather than endless reps. I taught all over the city, at fitness centers, country clubs, schools, hospitals, corporations; and the confusion could be frustrating, but I was more than I was happy to educate them.
In 2012, a lot of my private clients were having issues with food sensitivities. I created a simple program to educate them on food and ways to alleviate their symptoms. It was enthusiastically received and grew into cooking classes, then a weekly menu plan. I needed a bigger space, so decided to rent a catering kitchen.
In 2014, I opened the canihaveabite kitchen, an organic meal prep business. Over the next 3 years the business slowly grew from a handful of clients to a brick and mortar cafe. Each dish was made with organic and sustainably farmed ingredients, many bought from local farmers, Each dish was packaged in compostable packaging. We also composted or recycled the majority of our waste. I was very proud of what I had created. The business grew until 2020. Like many other businesses, after struggling through the pandemic and the numerous challenges that followed, I decided it was time to close.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
There are two things that are true of everything I teach – learn to listen to your body and healing comes from the earth. Even though these may seem disconnected, understanding both help to bring you more clarity on each of them.
Movement and food are forever intertwined in my mind when helping clients return to health. With food, I believe in feeding the body rather than depriving it. The body needs fuel to heal and stay strong. Instead of counting calories or carbs, I focus on the farming behind the food and what might be lacking and what needs boosting. I realized with one of my early clients that she needed to focus more on nutritious foods that she could easily digest rather than the elimination diet that had been suggested. In my first session with her, she was exhausted and struggled to stand when learning some simple meal prep cooking techniques. Within the first month she was a new person, looking healthy and moving with energy.
When I work with clients or teach cooking classes, I like to keep things simple. We are all so busy, we need skills that we can use quickly and easily – especially when running behind in the morning or ravenous at the end of a long day! We need solutions that make it easy to eat healthy dishes. During my own illness, I learned how to make dishes in minutes that are both nutritious, and delicious.
I have been asked to write a cookbook since I opened my first cafe. In January 2026, I finally decided on the format and the focus. As of this writing, I am currently working on that cookbook. Yes, it will have recipes, but will also educate readers on how to understand flavor combinations, create a workable pantry, cook for their lifestyle and so much more.
When I teach pilates, it is about going deep as you learn the method. How is your body responding to the exercises? Are you connecting to your breath? Pilates is learning efficiency of movement, developing coordination, connecting your body from fingertips to toes and understanding that every movement begins at your center. It is a lot to take in, so I often teach using visualization as cues. Our body understands what our mind visualizes.
With clients, I always look at the whole body rather than isolating it into parts. I watch their movements so I can identify imbalances and weaknesses. And when it comes to injuries, the body wants to heal! Sometimes we just need to observe and listen to what it is telling us. And when an injury does set us back, remember the body is best when allowed to move. An injury should not become an ongoing compromise to your movement. We are constantly learning more about the intricate web of connections throughout our body and how working with them can turn a chronic problem into a healed injury. And nothing makes me happier than helping people on that journey.
Currently I am working at Body In Motion Physical Therapy. Pilates and physical therapy are such a perfect fit! I see private pilates clients, teach duo reformer sessions, and have plans for pilates mat classes in the fall.
For more information email me at kathy@moveyounger.com
Or call Body In Motion Physical Therapy at 913 -432-3950.
Body in Motion is located at 1900 W 75th St, Prairie Village, KS
My website is moveyounger.com
Follow me at moveyounger on TikTok or Instagram
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I learn so much from all my clients and students
Pricing:
- $20 Single Mat Class
- $15 per class 5 Class Package
- $90 Private Pilates Single Session
- $85 per Private / 8 Session Package
- $80 per Private / 16 Session Package
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.moveyounger.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moveyounger/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoveYounger/featured
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@moveyounger?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
